Describes a cell or other membrane-bound object which has a lower concentration of solutes than its surroundings. For example, a cell in a high-salt-concentration medium is hypoosmotic. Water is more likely to move out of the cell by osmosis as a result. This is the opposite of hyperosmotic.

From the BioTech Dictionary at http://biotech.icmb.utexas.edu/. For further information see the BioTech homenode.

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